Quick release plant holder

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for transplanting a seedling and/or plant from a container that substantially reduces damage to the seedling and/or plant. The container includes at least one upstanding side wall and an outwardly extending flange at an upper portion thereof. The upper portion includes slots therein which define a tab therebetween. A stress riser proximate an end of the slot is formed when the tab is manually forced downward, resulting in a portion of the side wall stripping away to expose the contents of the container. The contents of the container can thereby be easily and quickly removed without substantially damaging the seedling and/or the plant therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.09/574,988, filed May 19, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to holdersor containers for retaining and transporting plants. More specifically,the present invention relates to plant holders or containers constructedfor facilitating the removal of the plant therefrom prior to thegenerally permanent placement of the plant in soil.

[0003] State of the Art: It is common procedure in commercialgreenhouses and large scale reforestation and farming operations toinitially germinate and/or grow new plants in a controlled environment.Such environments increase the likelihood of the new plant's survivalduring the first few months of the plant's life. The new plants aretypically maintained in the controlled environment until they reach apredetermined stage of development. Upon reaching this stage ofdevelopment, the new plants are transported to a selected location wherethey are placed in the soil to continue their growth on a long termbasis.

[0004] Growing new plants in a controlled environment spatially removedfrom their intended long term growing situs requires the plant grower toprovide a temporary container for the new plant during its maturation inthe greenhouse. Conventionally, new plants are grown in small plasticcontainers. These containers are oftentimes arranged in arrays ormatrixes and are known by designations such as pony packs, trays, flats,etc. Not only do these containers provide a means of retaining the newplant and its growing medium during the initial growth stages of theplant, but furthermore, these containers provide a means fortransporting the new plant to its eventual long term planting situs.

[0005] As the new plant develops, its root structure becomes enmeshed inthe growth medium which surrounds it in its container. Disruption ofthat association of the root structure and its associated growth mediumcan prove damaging to the plant and its long term survivability. Inthose instances wherein the container is manufactured of anonbiodegradable material, the plant root structure must be removed fromthe container in order to plant the new plant in the soil of its longterm growth situs. Given the importance of maintaining the rootstructure in close association with the growth medium surrounding it inthe container, it becomes important that the user be able to remove theroot structure from the container with a minimum disruption of the rootstructure's association with its growth medium. Traditionally, usershave encountered significant difficulties in safely removing the rootstructure from its respective container. In many instances, the userwould grasp the plant by its stem and attempt to pull the plant rootstructure from the container. In the event that the growth medium or theroot structure was securely lodged in the container, e.g. the growthmedium being dry and fairly hard, the root structure would resistremoval from the container. It is found from experience that when thegrowth medium surrounding the root structure of each seedling grows toan extent so as to fill the capacity of its container, it becomesdifficult to dislodge the seedling from the pack or pot. In particular,the roots of the plant may become lodged and root-bound to the insidesurface of the pack or pot, and therefore, the roots are liable totearing and damage during removal from the packs or pots. In theaforedescribed circumstances, as the user applied more force to theplant stem to secure the plant's removal from the container, he or shewould oftentimes break the stem of the plant thereby destroying theplant.

[0006] In those instances wherein the growth medium was very wet,grasping the stem and pulling on it would often result in the rootstructure being disassociated from its growth medium. This dissociationprejudices the chances of the plant surviving once it is planted in thesoil. In other situations, the user would compress the container priorto extracting the plant root structure from the container with theexpectation that the compression would ease the removal of the rootstructure from the container. In these instances, the compressionresulted in damage to the root structure. It follows that considerabledamage and loss of plants have occurred due to the lack of availablemeans of safely removing the root structure and accompanying growthmedium from its initial growth container.

[0007] Accordingly, it is expedient to devise an arrangement fordislodging a plant root and its associated growth medium from varioussized containers without damaging the plant, and further, to remove theplant in an efficient manner.

[0008] As such, it is important to ensure that the container arrangementoffers sufficient facility and convenience to dislodge each planttogether with its roots and growth medium in such a manner thatdetrimental separation of the growth medium from the roots does notoccur at the time of transplantation. It is essential, especially intransplanting projects, to ensure that the survival chances of replantedplants are high, and root separation from the growth medium duringtransplanting is certain to be avoided.

[0009] Various efforts have been made in the past to provide containersfor developing plants. Illustrative of these efforts are the following:

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,159 teaches a unitary seedling “flat” made ofrigid plastic and containing a plurality of cells in the form of squaredownwardly tapering recesses. The seedling flat of this reference has nospecial facilities for releasing the seedlings together with their rootballs. In the '159 patent, the seedlings have to be apparently pulledout of the cells, offering no special advantages for safe and easyremoval of the seedling root balls, and especially, if the roots arelodged and root bound to the inside of the cells.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No 3,889,416 to Bergeron et al. teaches a seedlingarrangement for reforestation purposes, containing a plurality of tubesadapted to be supported vertically in a tray. The tubes are intended forelevated growing, but contain no special provision or convenience foreasily dislodging the seedling without damage and separation beinginflicted on the root ball. In fact the vertically extending ribs,provided on the inner cylindrical surface of the tubes in the '416patent, tend to make the tubes rigid and stiff by reinforcing, wherebythe tubes will not easily flex. As such, the rigid tubes necessitatesrolling, pinching, or pulling action on the rigid container in order torelease the seedling, making it very difficult to safely release theseedling together with the root ball and growth medium without damagingthe seedling. In many cases, it may be necessary to tip the containerupside down in an effort to remove the plant, resulting in root and/orplant damage.

[0012] In an effort to prevent damaging the root system whiletransplanting seedlings, U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,674 to Blackmore, Jr.discloses a plant container with a plurality of downwardly extendingcompartments each made for containing the root ball and system of aseedling. The bottom end of the compartment is constructed of thinmaterial and is slitted to form yieldable flap members that can bend andreverse inwardly so that an ejection plunger can move upwardlytherethrough to thereby eject the contents of the compartment. However,the use of an additional piece to complete this task, such as anejection plunger, is cumbersome, inefficient, and such a device mayeasily be lost or misplaced. Further, depending on the consistency ofthe soil, damage may easily still occur to the root system of a seedlingby forcing the ejection plunger through the bottom of each compartmentto dislodge the contents thereof.

[0013] Based on the foregoing, it would be advantageous to provide anapparatus and an associated method that would at once provide afunctional container for young plant development while simultaneouslyproviding a means for easily removing the plant's root structure andassociated growth medium from the container at the time oftransplantation. Such a new container would also provide a means ofminimizing the likelihood of the root structure being damaged ordissociated from its growth medium

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention provides an apparatus for retaining adeveloping plant in association with its growth medium. The apparatus ifadapted with structure for facilitating the removal of the plant rootstructure and its associated growth medium while minimizing damage tothe plant and any disassociation of the plant root structure from itsgrowth medium. The apparatus includes a container structure having atleast one upstanding side wall. The side wall is configured to have aportion thereof which is adapted to be readily stripped away from itsgeneral association with the sidewall by means of the user applying asmall manual force to the sidewall portion, e.g. by means of his or herfingers. In preferred constructions, the sidewall portion includes atleast one slot defined within the sidewall. The slot extends from a freeedge of the sidewall into the body of the side wall. The slot functionsas a stress riser sufficient that upon the application of a modestamount of force to the sidewall proximate the slot, the sidewall may bemade to rupture along a length, e.g. a height, thereof causing thesidewall to open up and thereby permit the user to safely remove theplant root structure and growth medium without the need of compressingthe root structure and growth medium or applying inordinate force to theplant stem.

[0015] In some embodiments of the invention the container may include anoutwardly extending flange in association with the upstanding sidewall,preferably disposed on an upper portion of the sidewall. In theseembodiments the slot or slots may extend from a free edge of the flangeinto the body of the flange. In some instances, the slot may extendthrough the flange and into the body of the sidewall itself.

[0016] In the present invention, the stress riser slot results in astrip-away side wall so that the soil surrounding the root structure ofa plant remains intact and undamaged during the removal process therebyenabling the user to quickly and productively transplant a new plantfrom the container, resulting in an increased survival rate for theplant. A method for removing the plant from the container is alsodisclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The method and apparatus of the present invention will be morefully understood from the detailed description of the invention taken inconjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a plant container tray, illustratinga plurality of containers, in accordance with the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the plant container trayof FIG. 1, illustrating slots in the side walls of each container;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plant container tray,illustrating slots providing strip-away sides;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a single cell container,illustrating a method of removing a seedling from the cell container;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a top view of a single cell container, illustrating analternate configuration of sidewall defined slots;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cellcontainer, illustrating slots and perforations providing strip-awaysides; and

[0024]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a large cellcontainer, illustrating break-away sides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Referring to drawing FIG. 1, a top view of a plant tray 1 isshown having six cell containers 10, in a matrix arrangement of twocells in one direction and three cells in another direction (2×3). Whilethe tray shown in FIG. 1 is illustrative it should be understood thatthe instant invention may be applied to single containers as well astrays having any number of associated containers. Furthermore, theinvention may also find application to trays having various matrixarrangements. The tray 1 may contain and may have a means forfacilitating the separation of the individual cell containers 10 fromeach other, such as perforations therebetween (not shown). Each cellcontainer 10 is particularly suited for germinating and/or growingplants during their initial stages of development. FIG. 2 illustrates across-sectional side view of FIG. 1, depicting an exemplary seedling ineach of the cell containers 10.

[0026] The tray 1 is preferably made from, but not limited to, a thinplastic, such as polystyrene, polypropylene, or polyethylene. Thepolystyrene is generally less durable than polypropylene andpolyethylene. The thin plastic typically comes in the form of a rollhaving a thickness of approximately 0.020 inches to 0.024 inches thick.To form the tray 1, the thin plastic may be unrolled over a mold andheated in a process known as thermal forming. The finished containerproduct may include, but is not limited to, a wall thickness ofapproximately 0.005 inches to 0.010 inches thick. The present inventionis not limited to thermal forming, but rather, the present invention maybe employed in any process known to one of ordinary skill in the artsuited to producing a container structure having a container sidewallthickness of between approximately 0.005 inches to 0.010 inches inthickness.

[0027] As shown each cell container 10 may include one or more sidewalls12 which extend upwardly from a bottom floor 14. Each sidewall 12 issecured to the bottom floor 14 and to adjacent sidewalls along its twoopposing upstanding edges thereby forming an open topped containerstructure. Each container structure is typically formed by four sidewalls 12 terminating at the bottom floor 14. Further, in someconstructions the sidewalls 12 and the bottom floor 14 may all be formedfrom a single integral sheet of material. In an alternativeconstruction, the container 10 may be formed of a single side wall 12and bottom wall 14 to thereby have the shape of a cylindrical cone.Furthermore, the bottom wall 14, or the lower surface as it may be(i.e., cylindrical cone cell), may define a hole 16 for allowing aircirculation and water drainage from the soil 6 and seedling 8 in thecell container 10. In some embodiments of the invention the container10, may include a plurality of holes and/or vents in the side walls 12and bottom wall 14 of any given cell container 10.

[0028] Each cell container 10 defines at least one slot 30 in a topportion thereof. A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2. As illustrated in the figures, one or more of theupstanding sidewalls 12 of the container may include an outwardlyextending flange 18 which is disposed on the upper edge of the sidewall.The flange 18 may extend generally laterally from the body of thecontainer 10. Preferably, the flange 18 defines two slots 30 therein,the slots being oriented side by side and spaced a predetermineddistance to define a tab 20 therebetween. Each slot 30 preferablyextends inward from a free end 22 of the flange 18 to the flange edge 32and slightly into the side wall 12 of the cell container 10, though insome constructions the slots 30 may only extend substantially up to theflange edge 32. In instances where the cell container 10 does notinclude a flange 18, two slots 30 may extend in the upper portion of theside wall 12 so as to define tab 20 therebetween.

[0029] The slots 30 are preferably provided by burning, stamping,slicing, cutting, scoring or perforating into the plastic or thematerial at an upper portion, namely, the flange 18 and/or side wall 12of the cell container 10. However, any suitable device or method may beused to produce the slots 30 in the cell container 10, such as, theslots 30 may be provided as being part of the thermal forming processitself or any known process in forming the tray 1. Further, each slot 30in a tray 1 or cell container may be burned, stamped, sliced, cut,scored or perforated at the upper portion thereof all within one stroke,or, the slots may be provided singularly, or per column/row of the tray1, or per cell container 10.

[0030] In the most preferred construction, the slots are formed bybringing the container into close proximity or contact with a hotelement thereby melting or burning the slot through the material formingthe sidewall 12 or the flange 18. In forming the slots in this manner, athin border of melted material is formed about the perimeter of the slot30, wherein the border is slightly thicker than the thickness of thematerial adjacent the border. Importantly, this border is of sufficientstrength to resist a shearing or tearing of the material from the slotinwardly into the sidewall or the flange resulting from the applicationof small forces, e.g., ordinary handling, to the. container. However,when the user applies a larger force to the tab 20, the border may betorn or ruptured and the slot may be extended into the body of thesidewall 12 or the flange 18.

[0031] According to the present invention, a slot 30 is defined as anopening, slit, notch, groove, depression, score, and/or perforation.Each slot 30 may extend into the flange 18 from a free end 22 thereof.The slot 30 may have a first open end 33 which communicates with theedge of the flange 18. Alternatively, the slot 30 may be separated fromthe free end 22 of the flange by a thin portion 19 of the flange 18(see, FIG. 2(a)), which thin portion may be easily torn by theapplication of a user generated force to the thin portion. Each slot 30also includes a slot end 34, which may be at the flange 18, flange edge32, or the side wall 12 depending on the depth of the slot into the cellcontainer and the configuration of the cell container itself. The slotend 34 provides a stress riser proximate the slot end 34 when a force isapplied downward on tab 2 0. As shown in drawing FIG. 3, applying forceto tab 20, such as manually pulling tab 20 downward, creates the stressriser proximate the slot end 34. When sufficient force is applied, thestress riser causes the side wall 12 to weaken and eventually rupture.As the sidewall is torn along tear lines 37, a portion 36 of thesidewall is removed from the remaining sidewall 12 thereby exposing thegrowth medium 6 surrounding the plant 8 and its root structure. As shownin FIG. 4, removal of the growth medium 6 and root structure from thecell container 10 may then be completed by manually lifting the growthmedium 6 with the plant 8 from the container. If the growth medium 6 isroot bound to the side walls 12 of the container, the side walls 12 maybe manually pulled in opposite directions (shown by arrows in FIG. 4)prior to lifting the growth medium 6 from the cell container 10.

[0032] Therefore, it is well appreciated that the slots 30 defining tab20 in the flange 18 and/or the side wall 12 provide the strip-away sidewall 36 by manually pulling downward on the tab 20. In this manner, thepresent invention provides simple and easy removal of the growth medium6 and root structure of the plant 8 from the cell container 10 withoutsubstantially damaging the structural integrity of the growth medium 6surrounding the root structure. The plants can therefore be transplantedmore quickly, efficiently and with less potential damage to the rootstructure, providing for healthier seedlings and an increased chance ofsurvival after being transplanted. The need for the user to compress thecontainer 10 to ease the removal of the plant from the container shouldbe dramatically reduced, thereby lessening the possibility of damage tothe root structure of the plant. Further, additional devices are notneeded to extract the plant as used conventionally. Therefore,transplanting the plants according to the present invention is morecontrolled and much easier for the person undergoing the task.

[0033] Referring to drawing FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in a top view of the cell container 10. Inthis alternate embodiment, the cell container 10 may include additionalslots 30 at an upper portion therein to define the tab 20 at multiplelocations. In addition, by including additional slots 30 in the cellcontainer 10 so that the slots are adjacent and common to a cornerportion 38, the slots define a corner tab 20'. Accordingly, the cellcontainer 10 in this alternate embodiment may allow one to utilize tab20 at multiple locations of the cell container, and/or, to utilizecorner tab 20', in which each tab 20 and corner tab 20'provides thestrip-away side wall 36 as previously set forth by manually pullingdownward on the tab 20 and/or corner tab 20'.

[0034] Referring to drawing FIG. 6, a second embodiment of a cellcontainer 10 is shown. The cell container 10 of the second embodiment issimilar to that of the first embodiment, however, in addition to theslots 30 the side wall 12 includes a scored or perforated side wall 40.The perforated side wall 40 is utilized for cell containers 10 made ofthick walled plastic. The perforated side wall 40 preferably extendsdownward proximately from the slot end 34 of each slot 30 to the bottomwall 14, and may even extend into the bottom wall 14. As such, theperforated side wall 40 defines the strip-away side wall 36 of the thickwalled plastic when tab 20 is manually pulled as previously set forth inthe first embodiment. Alternatively, the side walls 12 of the secondembodiment may be formed in the molding process to include a thinnedportion to preferably extend downward proximately from the slot end 34of each slot 30 to the bottom wall 14. In this manner, the thinnedportion in the side wall 12 defines the strip-away side wall 36 just asthe perforated side wall 40 previously set forth. The thinned portionmay be formed during a thermal forming process or any process known toone of ordinary skill in the art.

[0035] Referring to drawing FIG. 7, a third embodiment of the cellcontainer 10 is shown. The cell container 10 of the third embodiment isa large container 50 having side walls 52 with an upper portion 54 and abottom wall 56. The large container 50 may be made of a thicker moredurable plastic as known in the art or a biodegradable material as knownin the art for transplanting larger plants. In the third embodiment, theupper portion 54 of the side wall 52 includes at least two cuts 58therein. The cuts 58 may be defined as an opening, slit, notch, groove,depression, score, and/or perforation. The cuts 58 in the upper portion54 define a tab 60 therebetween. The upper portion 54 where the cuts 58are located may include a flange or lip. As in the previous embodiment,the side wall 52 of the large container 50 includes a scored orperforated side wall 62 that extends downward proximately from the cuts58 to approximately the bottom wall 56. Thus, when the tab 60 betweenthe cuts 58 is manually forced in a substantially downward direction,stress risers proximate the cuts 58 allow the perforated side wall 60 tostrip-away from the large container 5 0. As such, the portion stripedaway from the large container is a strip-away side wall 64, whichthereby, exposes the growth medium surrounding the root structure of theplant therein to allow simple and easy removal thereof. As in theprevious embodiments, the present invention provides for easy removal ofthe growth medium and root structure from the large container 50 bymanually lifting the growth medium with the plant therein. Thus, plantscan therefore be transplanted with less potential damage to the rootstructure thereof, providing for healthier plants and an increasedchance of survival thereafter.

[0036] Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, theseshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention,but merely as providing illustrations of some of the presently preferredembodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the invention may beadvised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of the presentinvention. Features from different embodiments may be employed incombination. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated andlimited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, ratherthan by the foregoing description. All additions, deletions andmodifications to the invention as diclosed herein which fall within themeaning and scope of the claims are to be embraced thereby.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plant container comprising: an upstanding sidewall having an upper edge, said upstanding side wall defining twoelongate first openings positioned spacedly apart from one another, eachsaid first opening extending downwardly from said upper edge through aportion of said side wall; and a flange, secured to said upper edge ofsaid upstanding side wall to extend laterally outward from said sidewall, said flange having a width which extends from a free edge of saidflange to a securement of said flange to said upper edge, said flangedefining two elongate second openings positioned spacedly apart from oneanother, each of said second openings extending from a respective firstend which is spacedly removed from said free edge of said flange to arespective second end positioned proximate said upper edge of saidupstanding side wall, said flange having a portion thereof disposedintermediate said first end of each said second opening and said freeedge of said flange; wherein each said first elongate openingcommunicates with a respective said second elongate opening to form acontinuous opening which extends from said first end of said secondelongate opening, through a portion of said width of said flange anddownwardly through said portion of said upstanding sidewall.
 2. Theplant container of claim 1, wherein said upstanding side wall isgenerally planar in configuration and said first openings are definedwithin a common plane of said side wall.
 3. The plant container of claim1, wherein said flange is generally planar in configuration and saidsecond openings are defined within a common plane of said flange.
 4. Theplant container of claim 1, wherein said two elongate second openingsare spacedly apart and substantially parallel to one another.
 5. Theplant container of claim 1, wherein said two elongate second openings insaid flange are spacedly apart to define a tab between said secondopenings.
 6. The plant container of claim 1, wherein said flangeextending laterally outward from said sidewall includes a comer portionand wherein said two elongate second openings extend in substantiallynormal directions to one another on both sides of said comer portion andproximate thereto.
 7. The plant container of claim 6, wherein saidcorner portion with said two elongate second openings on said both sidesof said comer portion defines a tab.
 8. The plant container of claim 1,wherein said upstanding side wall further comprises at least one of aperforated portion, a scored portion and a thinned portion.
 9. The plantcontainer of claim 8, wherein said at least one of said perforatedportion, said scored portion and said thinned portion of said upstandingside wall extends substantially from an end portion of each of said twoelongate first openings.
 10. The plant container of claim 9, whereinsaid at least one of said perforated portion, said scored portion andsaid thinned portion of said upstanding side wall defines a break-awayportion in said upstanding side wall.
 11. The plant container of claim10, wherein said break-away portion strips away from said upstandingside wall when a substantially downward force is applied to a flangeportion between said two elongate second openings.
 12. A plant containercomprising: an upstanding side wall having an upper edge, saidupstanding side wall defining two elongate first openings positionedspacedly apart from one another, each of said first openings extendingdownwardly from said upper edge through a portion of said sidewall; anda flange, secured to said upper edge of said upstanding side wall toextend laterally outward from said sidewall, said flange having a widthwhich extends from a free edge of said flange to a securement of saidflange to said upper edge, said flange defining two elongate secondopenings positioned spacedly apart from one another, each of said secondopenings extending from said free edge of said flange to said upper edgeof said upstanding side wall; wherein each said first elongate openingcommunicates with a respective said second elongate opening to form acontinuous opening which extends from said free edge of said flange,through said entire width of said flange and downwardly through saidportion of said upstanding sidewall.
 13. The plant container of claim12, wherein said upstanding side wall is generally planar inconfiguration and said first openings are defined within a common planeof said side wall.
 14. The plant container of claim 12, wherein saidflange is generally planar in configuration and said second openings aredefined within a common plane of said flange.
 15. The plant container ofclaim 12, wherein said two elongate second openings are spacedly apartand substantially parallel to one another.
 16. The plant container ofclaim 12, wherein said two elongate second openings in said flange arespacedly apart to define a tab between said second openings.
 17. Theplant container of claim 12, wherein said flange extending laterallyoutward from said sidewall includes a comer portion and wherein said twoelongate second openings extend in substantially normal directions toone another on both sides of said comer portion and proximate thereto.18. The plant container of claim 17, wherein said comer portion withsaid two elongate second openings on said both sides of said cornerportion defines a tab.
 19. The plant container of claim 12, wherein saidupstanding side wall further comprises at least one of a perforatedportion, a scored portion and a thinned portion.
 20. The plant containerof claim 19, wherein said at least one of said perforated portion, saidscored portion and said thinned portion of said upstanding side wallextends substantially from an end portion of each of said two elongatefirst openings.
 21. The plant container of claim 20, wherein said atleast one of said perforated portion, said scored portion and saidthinned portion of said upstanding side wall defines a break-awayportion in said upstanding side wall.
 22. The plant container of claim21, wherein said break-away portion strips away from said upstandingside wall when a substantially downward force is applied to a flangeportion between said two elongate second openings.